Do you wear gloves

[mellow]

Sorry I have so many questions but you guys are so helpful. I was woundering do you wear gloves most of the time, like when taking blood, giving injections etc. I remeber being in a hospital and one of the nurses put some pill like thing up someones bum with no glove. surely this isn't normal practice. Also do you worry about catching something contagious or have you pricked your self with a needle after it's come in contract with someone else.

Thanks

[mario_ragucci]

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

Mario, beautiful...but you forget ...it's not JUST YOURSELF

Yes smiling blue eyes, I remember, and I could be a vehicle and not even know it. But I could never be a resevior. But thank you for reminding me and saying it so nice like i will never forget to consider the whole ball of wax.

(rubber glove druid)

[charissa]

My daughter is only 18 months, but she knows what eewww yucks are. Unfortunetly it doesnt seem like most nurses are. I am always careful. What if I didnt wear gloves and took something home to my family? I am nervous about taking things home to them even when i am overly careful, which is most of the time. some nurses i work with dont, and i give reminders. My OBGYN draws blood sometimes in the office himself and NEVER wears gloves, it disgusts me, and i make a comment every time. The unfortunate thing about gloves is they aren't like steel toed boots, eventually you get a stick, even if your careful, accidents happen. The first time i did it was off of a needle that had just been used in a long time dialysis pt with vre of the urine and mrsa of the blood. talk about a scare, but i got lucky. I dont understand why people will not use them, if you dont like the powder, use powder free! I know there are problems with them, I have a latex allery, but they are our first and best defense for ourselves and our patient and families

[OrthoNutter]

I never wear gloves when starting IVs or taking blood because I too, can't feel the veins properly, especially if they're a hard stick. My thought is that gloves are not going to protect me from a needlestick anyway...it's not like they're made of industrial strength steel. But for all other jobs, the gloves are always there. A pair always lives in my pocket "just in case".

[neuroRN, RN]

I ALWAYS wear gloves... Sometimes I have a difficult time starting IV's with gloves on, but then I will just put on the smallest size so I can feel the vein better, because I don't want to take any chances.

[baseline]

I come froma an era when blood was on the scrubs of many a hospital worker...nurses and doctors alike.........NOW??? I wear gloves....and lets remember .....WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!!!! Keep your skin protected and intact. WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

11/06/02

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines for hand hygiene in health care settings on October 25, 2002. According to the CDC, nearly 2 million patients in the United States get an infection in hospitals, and about 90,000 of these patients die as a result of their infection each year. The hand hygiene guidelines are part of an overall CDC strategy to reduce infections in health care settings to promote patient safety. To view guidelines, go to http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/.

[Magicat]

Originally posted by OrthoNutter

I never wear gloves when starting IVs or taking blood because I too, can't feel the veins properly, especially if they're a hard stick. My thought is that gloves are not going to protect me from a needlestick anyway...it's not like they're made of industrial strength steel. But for all other jobs, the gloves are always there. A pair always lives in my pocket "just in case".

I was discussing this thread with a colleague of mine, tonight, and she virtually said the same thing. And I agree. If you are gonna get stuck....

I keep my hands as intact as possible. If they are not intact, ie: cracked and dry from all the washing and the cold... I will use the medium glove to start an IV. But otherwise, no gloves for venipuncture. Besides, I can never find large gloves in the room. There aren't that many of us with big hands in our facility. When I find a box, I put some in the pockets.

[Agnus]

Originally posted by Magicat

I was discussing this thread with a colleague of mine, tonight, and she virtually said the same thing. And I agree. If you are gonna get stuck....

I keep my hands as intact as possible. If they are not intact, ie: cracked and dry from all the washing and the cold... I will use the medium glove to start an IV. But otherwise, no gloves for venipuncture. Besides, I can never find large gloves in the room. There aren't that many of us with big hands in our facility. When I find a box, I put some in the pockets.

The unfortunate part is you don't alway know there is a microscopic opening. Cracks don't have to be obvious.

Gloves are not about getting stuck. I was indeed stuck through a glove. However you can and I have had my gloves exposed to blood while starting an IV. Please, reconsider. Try a good fitting glove. I really do find there is negligible difference in sensitivity if the glove fits well.

Your facility is OBLIGATED to provide you with gloves the right size. You should not have to scrounge for ones that fit. The fact that most people do not wear you size is not an excuse for them to skimp.

[mattsmom81]

I used to whine about being unable to feel a small vein with gloves on...til a neurosurgeon scolded me "If I can do brain surgery with gloves you can surely find a peripheral vein with gloves....just practice."

He was right. (and I really hate it when docs are right..LOL)

LOVE the points about all the hospital's environmental toxins and the huge load to our immune system from EVERYTHING in the hospital these days...body fluids, chemicals, bugs and drugs, etc. Those gloves are even more important today from this standpoint.

And yes, like Uruguay, American docs can be most blase regarding glove wearing, unfortunately.

[baseline]

I'm surprised that the non-glovers here haven't been questioned by patients. I always glove up, but patients will still talk about it and they take note of those caregivers who do not. They have a right to be protected from us also......Just a thought. If you take care of me.....gloves.....and wash your hands please!!! I can't say that one enough.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Right-O, baseline!

[mario_ragucci]

If you want gloves on, then say you want gloves. If I came in to take a blood pressure and a oh sat on a patient and they barked at me to wear gloves, I would put them on.

Still, no one has really gave subjective material as to how not wearing gloves can harm you in a casual way. Like, does touching door handles count? Seriously, what is a practical scenario of a "family member" picking up something from the hospital. I heard most nurses have mrsa in their nose. Is that true? Lol. Oh!